Artifact (archaeology)

An artifact is any object made or shaped by humans.

These items can be simple tools or beautiful works of art. They might include metal weapons or pretty jewelry like buttons.

Archaeologists use these objects to learn about past civilizations. They look for clues about how people lived and what they did. Artifacts are very different from ecofacts, which are natural things like seeds. An artifact is something a person has changed to make it useful. Even a bone can become an artifact if someone carves it into a tool.

Artifacts change through two main ways. First, there is a behavioral process. This happens when people find raw materials and make something for a specific job. After they use the object, they might throw it away. Second, there are transformational processes. This is when nature or other humans change the object after it is left behind. Archaeologists look at the setting, or matrix, where an item is found. They also look at the provenience, which is the exact spot in that setting. This helps them understand the history of the object.

People have made artifacts since the Stone Age.

For a long time, humans have used stone tools to survive. These stone tools are called lithic artifacts. Archaeologists study them to see how technology grew over many years. They also study pottery, which is called ceramic analysis. This helps them learn about how people traded goods. By looking at many objects, experts can build a timeline of history. They use a method called typology to group similar shapes together.

Scientists use many tools to study these old items. They use special light and machines to look at stone and clay. Some methods, like x-ray fluorescence, help them see what materials were used. They also perform faunal analysis on animal remains. This can show what people ate or how they traded animals.

They can even use these bones to learn about social status. Some items, like the Curmsun Disc from the 980s, show us specific styles from the past. Every piece of data helps tell a bigger story.

Learning about the past can lead to big questions. Sometimes, people take artifacts from sites without permission. This is called looting, and it can hurt scientific research. There is a big debate about who truly owns the past. Some museums hold items that were taken from other countries long ago. For example, people discuss the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum. Groups like the Front Multi Culturel Anti-Spoliation work to return items to their home countries. This helps make sure history is treated fairly.